Shoe-nail



(N 0 Model.)

A. NEWTON.

' Shoe Nail.

Nq. 243,603. Patented June 28, I881.

Wimesws: I Inn a wt? 7":

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' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- ARTHUR NEWTON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHOE-NAIL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 243,603, dated June 28,1881.

Application filed March 12, 1881. (No model.)

1 To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, ARTHUR NEWTON, of

Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented certain Improvements inShoe-Nails, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to nails or sole-fastenings for boots and shoes;and it has for its object to provide a nail adapted to be struck or cutfrom a sheet or strip of metal, and embodying certain improvementswhereby the nail is prevented from working loose after having beendriven.

To this end the invention consists in a nail angular in cross-section,having a series of indentations or notches formed in each of its angles,each series of notches being separated from the adjacent series byintervening smooth surfaces or sides of the nail, substantially in themanner I will now proceed to specifically describe and claim.

Of the accompan yin gdrawi n gs, forming part of this specification,Figuresl and 1. represent respectively front and side elevations of anail or sole-fastening embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents asimilar nail, in this case provided with an enlarged head. Fig. 3represents a section on line to a, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a blank.All the figures are considerably enlarged.

The same letters refer all the figures.

to the same parts in In the drawings, N represents a nail angular' incross-section and tapering upon two of its sides from head to point.This nail is preferably formed by striking a blank, N, of proper shapeand size,(shown in Fig. 4,) from a sheet or continuous strip of metal,after the manner of making ordinary cut-nails. The blank is thensubjected to the action of suitable dies, whereby a series ofindentations or notches, n, are made in each of its corners or angles.These notches n may be either square, V-shapcd, or of any desired form,but each is preferably formed with two surfaces, 1 2, the first being ashoulder substantially at right angles with the length of the nail, andthe other being gently inclined, as shown, this form of notch beingpreferred for reasons hereinafter given. The indentations on two of theopposite angles of the nail may be made to alternate with those on thetwo other opposite angles, or they may be made opposite to each otherentirely around the nail, as shown in the figures. In either case eachseries of notches n is separated from the adjacent series by theintervening smooth surfaces or sides 8 of the nail, the notches nextending only partially across the sides, as shown. By thus separatingthe series of notches from each other by intervening smooth surfaces,the leather adjacent to said surfaces is not disturbed in driving thenail, and the latter is less likely to be turned or worked loose in theleather than if the nail were corrugated or threaded entirely across oneside or all around,-

in which case the leather would be torn and displaced on each side ofthe nail when it was driven.

The nail Nmay be without an enlarged head, as shown in Figs. 1 and l, orby suitably forming the blank N an enlarged head, either angular orround, may be struck up from the body of the nail, as shown in Fig. 2,the headin this instance being square. The head thus formed overlapsthe'outer surface of the leather when the nail is driven in the usualway.

In operation, when the nail N is driven the leather displaced by thenail settles into the indentations n formed upon the angles thereof, andthe solid portion of the nail over each set of indentations acts as ahead, preventing the nail from working loose, the nail being preventedfrom turning or suffering sidewise displacement by the leather adjacentto the sides or smooth surfaces 8 remaining undisturbed, as previouslydescribed.

The reason of my preference for forming the notches with the shoulder 1and the inclined side 2 is as follows: The bottom stock or soleleatheris usually submitted to moisture or undergoes the treatment commonlytermed tempering before being united with the uppers.

It is thus in a yielding condition, and when the nail is inserted theleather will easily press into or follow the inclined sides 2 ofthenotches and conform to their shape, thereby producing a series ofwedge-like braces projecting into the notches, and preventing an yaction by wear from forcing said fastening out of place or into thefoot, whereas notches made with upper and lower surfaces at abruptangles with the sides of the nail would check such conforma- A quickblow in driving the nail tends to compress the latter longitudinally bybringing its point violently in contact with the iron bottom of thelast. For this reason, besides the advantages already set forth, it ispreferable to indent or notch the nail N only on its corners or angles,leaving the intervening smooth surfaces sbetween each series of notchesand the adjacent series rather than to extend the indentations entirelyacross one or more sides of or entirely around the nail, as by notchingthe nail in the manner I have described and shown it is possible toavoid any liability of weakening or breaking the sections of the nail orof closing them together by the blow or pressure brought to bear uponthe nail for the purpose of driving it, and thus destroying the headedeffect or holding properties dependent on the open notches. The notchesor indenta' tions, separated, as described, by the unindented sides ofthe nail, also enable the point of v the nail to be turned or clinchedwithout danger of breakage, whereas if the indentations were carriedcontinuously across one side or entirely around the nail there would bemore liability of breakage, as will be readily seen. I am aware that itis not new to make a nail angular in cross section, with notches in oneor more of its angles, said notches extending (on one side-of the nailat least) nearly or quite across the entire width of the nail, andhaving upper and lower surfaces substantially at right angles to thesides of the nail, and I do not therefore claim, broadly, such a nail.

I am also aware that a nail which is longitudinally fluted to give itfour corners or ribs separated by intervening grooves has been providedwith notches in said corners or ribs to give the nail a better hold onthe leather. Said nail, however, is not adapted for clinching, anddiffers in this respect from mine, which has flat sides separating thenotched corners, as above described, and is adapted to be clinched.

What I claim is- 1. A nail or sole-fastenin g for boots and shoesrectangular in transverse section,with flat sides or surfaces, andhaving a series of notches or indentations formed on each of its cornersor angles, each series of notches being separated from the adjacentseries by intervening smooth surfaces or sides of the nail, whereby saidnotches are enabled to increase the holdingpowers of the nail withoutimpairing 7 its strength substantially as shown and described.

2. A nail or sole-fasteuin g for boots and shoes angular in transversesection, and having a series of notches or indentations formed in eachof its corners or angles, each series of notches being separated fromthe adjacent series by intervening smooth surfaces or sides of the nail,and each notch being formed with a shoulder, 1, and an inclined side, 2,substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, inthepresence of two subscribing witnesses, this 10th day of March, A. l).1881.

ARTHUR nnwron.

Witnesses ARTHUR P. WILsoN, O. F. BRowN.

